Work of the EHP Flashcards
Topic 2
what is the main role of the EHP?
-they ensure high standards of hygiene and safety are being carried out in food and feed businesses
who do the EHPs work with? who do they monitor?
-Health and Social Services Boards to control the risk of unsafe food reaching the public
-they also work with the FSA
-they monitor local food businesses and GPs to ensure that they are promoting high hygiene standards to ensure food safety
what are the 6 responsibilities of the EHP?
-food law inspections
-handling complaints
-taking action
-FHRS
-maintaining port health
-maintaining high standards of food safety
how does the EHP ensure that there is good hygiene when handling food? how do the EHP carry out a FHRS?
-they help to prevent food becoming contaminated
-ensure basic hygiene regulations are being followed
-the FHRS is used to display the hygiene standards in a business and by law they must display these so consumers can make informed decisions
-they have the power to enter any food premises and enforce legal notices e.g. Detention procedures
-they can give these notices to any businesses not following the Food Safety Act
-they can take samples of the food for further inspections
-this increases transparency and accountability which fosters trust between consumers and the food business
what are the types of warning notices EHPs give to food businesses?
-detention notices
-Hygiene Improvement Notices
-Probation notices
how do EHPs tackle food fraud? why is food fraud so harmful?
-conduct federal investigations
-food fraud includes mis labelling products, selling out of date foods or food that has been adultered
-food fraud is extremely harmful to consumers with allergens
-ensure allergen labelling labelling legislation is followed effectively to protect consumers
why and how do EHPs provide support for food businesses?
-so they can identify areas of improvements
-they run courses so food handlers can increase their knowledge on food safety
how do EHPs maintain port health?
-ensures imported food meets safety standards before it is released to the public
-inspect shipments to ensure they comply with food safety regulations and legislation
-they have a crucial role in protecting consumers by controlling food imports to prevent the spread of foodborne illness
-they intercept illegal imports
-they test waters to ensure they are free form contamination
how does the EHP ensure businesses maintain the same standards?
-regular inspections ensures they comply with legal requirements
-ensures consistently safe food
-build consumer confidence with the integrity of the food chain
-motivate businesses to improve their hygiene standards and safety as they know they are subjected to regular checks and will be given penalties of they do not comply
what is an example of a document that the EHP will inspect?
-the HACCP documentation
how and why does the EHP handle complaints?
-they investigate complaints to safeguard public health and prevent recurring issues
-they ensure that establishments are clean and safe at all times
-address complaints quickly and identify other potential risks to protect consumers
